SUCCESS IN MARRIAGE IS AN ACHIEVEMENT

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 13, Issue 8, 15 October 1948, Page 6

SUCCESS IN MARRIAGE IS AN ACHIEVEMENT

(Contributed by the Ministers’ Association) “Success in marriage is an achievement —it doesn’t just happen,” said the Rev. E. P. Blamires, a former Methodist Youth Director. “It has to be worked for and is a lifelong business.” That success went further, lasted longer and gave greater satisfaction than anything else in life. Its attainment meant sustained effort and self-discipline. It was not too difficult, however, if the partners had the right standards of honour and consecrated themselves unselfishly to the needs of one another. Sir Patick Duff, British High Commissioner, compared the boy or girl of last century,' born into a world where the influence of Christian ideals filled "the whole atmosphere, with the child of today born into a world where the Christian beliefs, which afforded clear standards, were neglected. Good habits had been inherited, but even they would not long survive the beliefs from which they grew. If there ceased to be any religious belief behind them the words “Do unto others as you would they should do , unto you” lost all their hold upon the heart of man. - ■ ' “Those who reject or neglect Christian beliefs cannot count on keeping Christian morals,” said Sir Patrick. Who, thirty years ago, would have believed that a highlyeducated and civilised people, among whom Christianity was apparently still strong, would be capable under Hitler of the horrors of the concentration camps? But the spiritual roots of German life had been cut; and rootless virtues wither. We in New Zealand were seeing that better living conditions did not inevitabll make better human beings. We too were letting our religion wither. “A challenge has come to us today such as few generations have been called upon to meet,” Sir Patrick concluded. “It is not Government that can repel the threat. What defence can we put up against this disintegration? The' home, the little home.” ! , A good relationship between husband and wife was fundamental in the home. Children would suffer if the parents did not have common interest and mutual affection for each other. Actions spoke louder than words. Children should be encouraged to make their own individual contributions to the fam-, ily as distinct personalities. Each child was a separate personality, with certain inherited tendencies, so that there should be no favourites. Brothers and sisters present the most valuable education of all. They learn from each other valuable facts about physical life, about sharing gifts, and healthy criticism, and that the most priceless treasures in life cannot be bought with money. Are we no’t all children, although some a little more developed than others? In an uncertain world some try to find security in possessions, and others in family and friends, but the only ultimate security is in the love of God.